The Mail Bag
Pienaar??
Comments (25)
So Steven Pienaar was again absent from the squad yesterday, just wondered if anyone had heard news of his likely return.
The injury he sustained against Fulham seemed pretty minor and there was even talk that he would only miss 1 match, (this was about 2 months ago) and yet there is still no sign of a return and very little has been said at Everton about him or his condition. He is someone that we miss greatly and we need him back asap with Billy suspended and Arteta still out.
Maybe someone can shed some light as I may have missed something!
Steven Smith, Posted 09/11/2009 at 07:58:44
Comments
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer
Be careful what you wish for.
If he is out, just bloody say he is out, and when you expect him back... but then that wouldn’t be the "Everton way" would it?
We desperately need some creativity in midfield, surely an emergency loan could be agreed by the FA, pity it would no doubt not be agreed by BK.
It is unthinkable for the South African FA or Fifa for that matter, that Steven is not on the pitch for the opening World Cup game.
What does that mean to EFC? Good news — Elstone should have the marketing dept riding the back of Pienaar into the 2010 World Cup and pushing EFC all over South Africa.
Bad News — as said above, he will be wrapped in cotton wool for large parts of the season. The biggest sporting event in South African history and Steven Pienaar is out injured — unthinkable.
Not good for EFC games, I know... and club should come before country but, in this historic case, I have a feeling we will only see Steven used when really fully fit. Any scares at all from then to the end of the season and he will not play.
World Cup year is only good for a club if their players are on the fringe and/or not certain of a place in the squad and have to play well to be included. The players who are certain to be picked will miss a lot more games as they prepare for the tournament.
COYB
(maybe it was yesterday’s Observer - my memory has turned to shite recently)
Anyway, there was a bit about players doing rehab and..um..stuff and one bit I remember (coz it confused me) said...
"...and there are a least two players presently serving secret bans for substance abuse".
SECRET bans?
How curious I thought.
Now I’m not for a SECOND pointing the finger at ANY of our players.
However I AM suggesting that if it is ’out there’ that secret bans are being served, surely EVERY club has a duty to ALL it’s players who are out of the side, to say..
"Joe Shmo has a broken eye and will be out for at least three weeks"
Just a suggestion
Sniff (that’s a cold by the way!)
South Africa was chosen for political reasons as well as spreading the football gospel and I am afraid that what we want will not come into it. If you were in Steven’s shoes what would you do?
He knows himself the importance of this competition to his nation and the hopes he carries. Add into the mix the political, economic and commercial implications and the pressure he is under must be immense.
For Steven Pienaar, the World Cup is not just about games of football. So yes, he will look after himself... And you never know, Moyes may understand this as well.
They are, you just have to look for it.
It was one of those incidents where, despite an apparent aim of getting the ball (to be generous) there was an unquestionable intent to follow right through whatever the consequences for the other player. When this is done, as it was, with studs up and a rigid leg, the consequences can be shocking for the player who was tackled. This sort of disguised assault needs to be jumped on big time.
It is precisely this sort of tackle that Jimmy Shithouse Case perpetrated to end Geoff Nulty’s career. Pienaar fell foul to an apparently lesser assault, but nonetheless reckless behaviour. As for what Nolan did to Anichebe, it disgusts me that such a shithouse can play on with impunity whilst a young player’s career hangs in the balance after the worst assault in recent memory.
If an Everton player did what Nolan or Etuhu did then I’d want him out. We sometimes lose sight of the spirit of this game. I’m sick of having to swallow the consequences of reckless assaults on my team.
It makes me wince when I see highly priced footballing assets conduct themselves in this way, but the alternative, apparently, would the old timers accusing said players of being "shithouses" for not diving in.
Interesting watching Fellaini on Sunday, he definitely is not one for diving in, and seemed to even back off from the challenge on a few occasions.
And that clumsy gangling clatter-barge he has perfected doesn’t even qualify as a proper tackle. I couldn’t help wondering if he’d actually improved all that much from the first game he played for us last season... but I’m digressing.
Paul Lally could be right I hadn’t thought of that. Apart from just the South African FA, Pienaar himself wouldn’t want to miss that either — it would be something most professional players wont get a chance to do.
I didn’t.
I simply pointed out that, given what some players ARE up to (coz it’s in the papers and stuff) clarity from clubs is the best way to stop rumours developing.
The original post says...
"The injury he sustained against Fulham seemed pretty minor and there was even talk that he would only miss 1 match, (this was about 2 months ago) and yet there is still no sign of a return and very little has been said at Everton about him or his condition"
The fact that original post exists is (kind of) proof of what I’m saying.
I assume you sent a letter to David Moyes last season requesting him to sell Mr Fellaini because of his repeated, intentional and highly dangerous use of his elbows on fellow professionals...or for Mr Cahill, who is an invariably dirty git...
My thoughts were (just thoughts, no substance whatsoever) was that perhaps Pienaar needs a minor op...and this has been discussed with him and the SA authorities - the response back was no way from both player and SA. Any operation being riskier than a period of prolonged rest...
From our perspective - such an op to ’clear up one or two things’ would be quicker than no intervention and long rest..so we wanted him to have it he did not - queue impass and possible fall out.
All this seems a little far fetched, granted, but the silence surrounding Pienaar’s fitness and contractual discussions is deafening. Although - granted - Baz mentioned today that Pienaar is on the road to recovery - when this means he will play again is anyones’ guess.
Piennar - late November
Jags late December early 2010
Arteta Late 09 early 2010
Neville late November,
Osman Late November
Big Vic Late 09 early 2010. Only Jo and Vaughn are as yet unknown.
Why are people insisting on a conspiracy of silence, the info is there and is updated on a regular basis. Maybe some of you won’t be happy unless the club rings you every evening to keep you informed and make sure that you are happy.
In fact let’s make it much easier Ciaran, rather than post ridiculously contrary & pious posts just for the sake of it, kindly remind us all of the last Everton player who committed a bad/deliberate foul resulting in horrendous injury & lengthy absence for an opponent.
I’m talking about his highly publicised, and clearly intentional use of his elbows several times last season....
Now, are you going to answer the question???
Letter or no letter?
You’ve been pontificiating and moaning about the bad men hurting evertonians for some time...I merely think it’s time you were taken to task on it...
In a friendly way, of course....
Football is a contact sport....and we are as guilty of overstepping the mark as anyone else...
my god where did it all go wrong!
Add Your Comments
In order to post a comment to the MailBag, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.
Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and MailBag submissions across the site.
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
1 Posted 09/11/2009 at 14:25:04
Report abuse
Can’t wait until we have a midfield of Pienaar, Arteta, Rodwell and Bily, with Cahill behind Saha.